Governor Mark Sanford now has new allegations against him. An AP investigation alleges that Sanford used the state’s planes for personal and political trips to fly to his children’s sporting events, to hair and dentist appointments, and to political gatherings, as well as a birthday party for a campaign donor. State law requires the planes to be used only for official business.

Kershaw County Senator Vincent Sheheen, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, wants that committee to investigate those allegations.  “South Carolina government too often does not perform thorough investigations.  This is a time that we should live up to that obligation.  I think the Transportation Committee needs to look into the places traveled to, what the purposes were, and determine whether there was any wrongdoing or not.”     

Sheheen says if the state aircraft has been misused, the governor should repay every penny owed to the taxpayers.

But Greenville Senator David Thomas and the Administrative Subcommittee that he chairs are already investigating the governor’s trips, particularly those where his security detail were not present. Would another investigation by the Transportation Committee be a duplication of effort? [Read more...]